An Open Letter to our Member of Parliament

Below is a copy of our email sent to: candice.bergen@parl.gc.ca Thursday, June 11 at 12:15PM. (Some parts of this letter were adapted and personalized from a public call-to-action written by Janet Forbes, Executive Director of Inclusion Winnipeg.)  

To the honourable Member Ms. Candice Bergen,

It is my understanding that Bill C-17, the Bill that contains the authority to issue the disability payments of $600, did not pass on June 10th, despite the fact that there was a motion tabled by the Liberal House Leader to separate the Bill into two separate Bills (C-17 and C-18) one to deal just with the disability payments.  

I am a mother to a child with a disability and I have been unemployed for nearly 3 months due to the Coronavirus pandemic.  I don’t expect to be able to resume work until the Fall, and that is only if we do not get a second wave of Covid-19 during the Flu season.  

It is also my understanding that the Opposition would like to see access expanded beyond current DTC eligibility criteria.  I very strongly disagree with the Federal Conservative Party using the lack of a full parliament (due to a pandemic) as a bargaining chip and an excuse to refuse to cooperate with the other parties.  All parties should negotiate with the government in good faith on the merit of their Bill(s) and not hold Canadians with disabilities, and all Canadians, hostage by using delay tactics.  

There have been many unanimous consent Bills put through during this pandemic, including financial support for many vulnerable populations.  People living with disabilities are in desperate need of financial support right now and can’t afford to be caught in the middle of political wrangling between parties, many of these individuals reside right here in your Portage—Lisgar Constituency.  

We are relying on you and your Honourable Colleagues to speak up for your constituents, vulnerable human beings, some of whom are struggling right now to make ends meet while trying to provide for themselves and children with disabilities.  

Please put people before politics and urge your fellow Honourable Members to do the same.

Thank you.


Respectfully, 

Jillian@ADHDPro.ca
CYW, BA Psych.
ADHD 2e Child Advocate
Cartier, Manitoba R4K 1A5
www.ADHDPro.ca

Want to get involved? 

You can view the transcript of the June 10th proceedings on the Our Commons website.  

You can also find your MP by entering your postal code on the Our Commons website.  

Contact your local MP and tell them your story.  They won't likely be moved to action unless they see that a large majority of their constituency feels strongly about this issue and that it will impact their decision when voting in the next election. 

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